[nickyp]

Good point, but unfortunately that only applies to the performing arts.

And even then the issue of control comes to play. I know for a fact that if you want to play a certain big festival in my country you have to agree that t-shirts can only be bought at the designated stand, for a price that's higher than the price you decide and they take a cut of the profits.

Again, maximising profits by ripping of customers beyond your control...

Anyway, I wouldn't mind paying for a 3 hour live performance of Apocalypse Now (but only with the original actors, director and in the original location ;-)

[Radix]

These festivals shouldn't be run by media business people, they should be run by musician business people. If there are too many people taking cuts then things will cost too much.